Yoshiro Togashi Hunter X Hunter is known for its complex plot and subversion of Shōnen tropes, which makes it one of the most timeless stories in the genre. The 2011 Madhouse adaptation does Togashi’s story and art justice, leaving audiences wanting more. Red Ghost is the first of two Hunter X Hunter movies, and although it seems HXH, It lacks the narrative quality and emotional reward characteristic of the series. Non-canon anime films are a great entry point into established franchises, but Red Ghost does a horrible job of distilling Togashi’s brilliance into its 97-minute running time.
Hunter X Hunter tells the story of a world inhabited by strange beasts and monsters, where the Hunter Society regulates the strongest members of society, such as the adventurers Gon and Kurapika, the main protagonists of the series. Red Ghost focuses on Kurapika’s revenge mission against the Phantom Troupea group of powerful Nen users who massacred their entire village, treading on ground already covered in the anime’s Yorknew City Arc. Unfortunately, the result is a disorganized mess of contrived plot conveniences and empty character development that neither benefits newcomers nor satisfies. Hunter X Hunter fans.
The first Hunter X Hunter film is a pale imitation of the series
Hunter X Hunter’s scope is too broad for a limited runtime
Rhythm is crucial for balance Hunter X Hunterr’s long explanations of Nen’s mechanics with the incredible displays of power that characters show after mastering it. Where a film adaptation like Evangelion 1.0: You are (not) alone) benefits from condensing and simplifying the story to present the audience with its unique world, Red Ghost buckles under the weight of its tradition and tries to serve too many characters and plot points from the series. What’s worse is that the film doesn’t improve on the plot points and emotional beats that make it up.
Someone stole Kurapika’s eyes – and according to him, it’s another survivor of his clan whose members were massacred for their Scarlet Eyes! Gon and Killua begin investigating on his behalf, but soon after they begin, the Phantom Troupe appears! – VIZ Media
The film’s inspiration comes from an unpublished story that Togashi wrote years before.and the inclusion of Retsu, Omokage and their Soul Dolls are original characters and concepts for this film. Neither Retsu nor Omokage are compelling additions to the cast, and the former’s ability to create Soul Doll copies of the Phantom Troupe to do his bidding feels like wish fulfillment. Gon and Killua face Uvogin, who is Kurapika’s first victim during his revenge mission against the Spiders during the Yorknew City Arc, but the confrontation doesn’t have the same emotional weight. Bringing back a soulless copy of such an important character doesn’t please the audience, nor Uvogin’s best friend, Nobunaga, who beheads the Soul Doll.
Phantom Rouge is somehow exaggerated and hollow
Kurapika’s feature film is all style, no substance
The film’s opening segment, “Hunterpedia,” is absolutely necessary to prepare the audience for what’s to come, because Red Ghost splits its focus between Kurapika’s quest to get his eyes back and Killua’s overprotective brother Illumi protecting him from danger through mind control. This last plot point is not only borrowed from the main canon, but it also lacks the emotional resonance that the series achieves by giving the story time to breathe and evolve naturally. More egregiously, the film’s use of copies of Soul Doll presents many characters with no consequences regarding their life or death.
What’s intriguing Red Ghost it’s how the animation quality fails in comparison to the anime series. Typically, feature-length anime films have a higher budget and an extended production schedule, resulting in a more refined version of the world.like the original trilogy of Sailor Moon films. Red GhostThe character models are a little off and sometimes look distorted, but the film’s real downfall is the lighting. Many sprawling sets are shrouded in darkness, set at night during a fierce storm, or bathed in a soft, inexplicable glow that often suggests a dream sequence or flashback.
Hunter X Hunter’s return from hiatus signals more to come
Togashi’s iconic manga is back after two years of absence
Hunter X HunterThe manga series goes on long breaks, sometimes years long, due to Togashi’s medical leave. During the production of Red GhostTogashi returned from hiatus to produce a two-part prequel chronicling Kurapika’s origin story, which forms the basis for the film’s opening and is easily the film’s strongest section. Shōnen Jump recently agreed to release chapters as they are completed, rather than forcing Togashi to adhere to the demanding timelines imposed by the manga industry, which promises a more consistent flow of Hunter X Hunter happy.
While the 2011 anime ends with the Hunter x Hunter 13th Presidential Election Arc, the manga continues the adventure with the highly anticipated confrontation between Chrollo and Hisoka, an expedition to the forbidden Dark Continent led by the former president’s son Netero, and the war of succession between the princes of the Kakin Empire. These stories have sparked speculation about a revival of the Madhouse series, or feature films, and with Togashi’s source material to work with, the results will likely far exceed Red Ghost and its monitoring, Hunter X Hunter: The Last Mission.